Even as Republicans plot their legislative plans to first repeal and then replace the Obama health law, federal officials say more Americans have signed up for coverage this year, as Democrats joined with the Obama Administration to again argue against GOP plans to attack Obamacare.
"Americans are once again proving that Marketplace coverage is vital to them and their families," said Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, as she reported that 6.4 million people had already signed up for coverage in 2017.
Officials say that's an increase of 400,000 signups from this time in 2015.
Democrats in Congress - knowing full well what's ahead next year on Obamacare from the Republicans - hailed the new signup numbers.
Democratic Governors chimed in as well, in a letter to GOP leaders in the Congress, arguing repeal "would be a financial and health disaster for states."
"Repeal would throw millions of our residents off their health coverage, shift enormous costs to state governments – blowing a hole in state budgets," the governors wrote.
But Republicans are having none of that.
"Americans deserve a 21st century health care system based on what patients & families need—not what Washington wants," said Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), who will drive Obamacare changes as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Brady met earlier this week with Vice President-Elect Mike Pence about some of the health care options that the GOP might look at, as Republicans are united on repeal, but not all on the same page about what to replace it with.
The new Congress convenes in less than two weeks on January 3, and then, the GOP will be under the gun to figure out the details.
"We’ve got a big, consequential year ahead of us," Brady said.
And it is just around the corner.
=
Here are the latest signup numbers as provided by the Obama Administration for the states that go through the federal healthcare.gov exchange:
About the Author
